Santo Domingo, National District, Dominican Republic.- In a context where digital threats evolve every day and young people are among the most active users of technology, some 200 university students participated in CyberConnect, an initiative developed by UNIPAGO, together with Unika and UniShield, with the support of the National Cybersecurity Center (CNCS) and the Catholic University of Santo Domingo (UCSD).
The opening of the activity was led by Carmen Turbides, Director of Audit, Governance and Security of UNIPAGO; Ángela Noelia Martínez, Director of Strategy Coordination of the CNCS, and Carmen Consuelo López Brandt, Academic Vice-Rector of the UCSD, who highlighted the importance of strengthening education and prevention as fundamental tools to build a safer and more resilient digital citizenship.
MMore than an educational event, CyberConnect is part of UNIPAGO's efforts to bring cybersecurity closer to young people in a practical and accessible way, promoting safe habits that allow them to protect their information, recognize threats and make responsible decisions in the digital spaces they use daily.
For its part, the National Cybersecurity Center (CNCS) highlighted the value of collaboration between the public sector, the private sector and academia to strengthen prevention capabilities against digital threats, and reiterated its commitment to promoting a cybersecurity culture throughout the country.
For their part, the authorities of the Catholic University of Santo Domingo (UCSD), the venue for the meeting, reaffirmed their commitment to training, technological innovation and the promotion of a cybersecurity culture, as well as their interest in continuing to foster spaces for the exchange of knowledge and the development of capacities in the face of the challenges of the digital environment.
DDuring the workshop, participants learned to recognize the risks of digital exposure and understand how their online actions can impact their privacy and security. Through specialized content, they learned about concepts related to digital footprints, social engineering, phishing, and other tactics used by cybercriminals to compromise personal and academic information.
Participants also had the opportunity to test their newly acquired knowledge through an interactive Kahoot quiz and a Capture the Flag (CTF) CyberChallenge, where they faced challenges related to identifying phishing attempts, conducting open-source research, and analyzing suspicious links. These activities transformed the learning experience into a practical, participatory exercise closely aligned with real-world challenges in the digital environment.
As a company that manages critical information for the Dominican Social Security System and maintains technological security as one of its strategic pillars, UNIPAGO stated that digital protection depends not only on technology but also on people's preparedness and awareness. Therefore, it develops initiatives that contribute to strengthening knowledge and prevention against cyber risks.
